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Future leaders set stage for new China relationship

Image: (Scott Bulman pictured left)

La Trobe University Law student Scott Bulman is one of two Victorians chosen from among Australia’s 15 ‘best and brightest’ young leaders for the inaugural Australia-China Youth Dialogue which starts in Beijing next Monday, October 4.

He and his Australian colleagues will meet with 15 of their Chinese counterparts at a pivotal period in Australia’s economic, political and strategic relationship with China.

‘As an Australian, I understand the importance of the Sino-Australian relationship in terms of security and prosperity for both nations, and for the greater Asian region,’ Mr Bulman says.

An initiative of the Australia-China Youth Association, the first two days will be held at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. The event culminates on the third day in the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

Mr Bulman is currently studying Chinese and Law at Renmin University, Beijing, on a two year Chinese government scholarship. He also works as an intern on intellectual property and entertainment law for a Beijing law firm as part of his La Trobe Law/Arts degree.

He has studied Mandarin since 1999, visiting China as a year 11 student in 2004 while at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School.

Fascinated by Chinese language and China’s rich culture and history, he has been back four times, under an Australia-China Council Scholarship and various La Trobe overseas study and intern programs.

After completing his degree at La Trobe, Mr Bulman plans to work as a diplomat or corporate lawyer in Asia.

Green energy focus

‘During the Dialogue I hope to stress the real possibility of Australia and China emerging as world pioneers in the area of "green energy",’ he says.

‘China's unprecedented economic growth and thirst for energy, coupled with Australia's abundance of natural resources and R&D capabilities puts both countries in an ideal position to make real progress in this area of global importance.

‘Given my experience researching and working with China's legal system, I also hope to raise some of the broader legal issues and grievances that many foreigners have when dealing with Chinese Law and the Chinese bureaucracy, such as transparency, equality and protectionism.’

The forum will be addressed by senior diplomatic, business and academic leaders, including Australia’s Ambassador to China, Dr Geoff Raby, also a La Trobe graduate and Distinguished Alumni Award holder.

Other speakers are the Executive Director of the Australia-China Business Council, Mr Laurie Pearcey; Professor Yiping Huang from the China Center for Economic Research at Peking University; BHP Billiton Senior Executive Mr Jianzhong Lu; and China Correspondent for 'The Sydney Morning Herald' and 'The Age', Mr John Garnaut.